Bronze Figure of Daoist Deity – Zhenwu / Xuandi

China, Ming Dynasty, 15-16th Century
Dimensions 12” (30 cm) H

Seated with legs pendant on an oblong base and angled semi-circular throne, barefoot but wearing elaborate armour with lion heads at knees and taotie mask cuirass, hints of a robe and sacred scarves flying from his shoulders. The face serene, brushed back hair and well coiffed moustache and beard, right hand possibly originally holding a weapon, the left hand in a typical hand signal peculiar to the guardian warriors depicted in the late Ming dynasty. A tortoise and snake at his feet two of his standard symbols.

This powerful protector deity of Daoism connected with the North direction and as such is Heidi (the black emperor) is more commonly known as Xuanwu or Xuandi, but more formally as Zhenwudadi (真武大帝 “Truly Valiant Great Emperor”) or Zhenwu. He was particularly connected with the Ming imperial like as having supposedly provided some assistance to Zhu Di, the future Yongle Emperor in the Jingnan Conflict which resolved the dynastic succession in his favour in 1402. From Yongle’s accession to the throne Zhenwu would be revered by the Ming Imperial line through to the end of the Ming dynasty, but his worship waned in the Qing dynasty and would be continued largely only by Southern and diaspora Han communities in Southeast Asia.

Compare with a larger Ming dynasty bronze Zhenwu in Christies NY, 15MAR2015 Lot 3205 in which the martial figure is shown in flowing robes with dragon reliefs over armour, but maintains the left hand finger sign and bare feet which maintain his iconography.

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5880237

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